DAMSELFLIES - Zygoptera:

Pages 76-111 size - slender-bodied, generally smaller and more frail than dragonflies. Most have an eyespot on the back of each eye.
wings - when perched, all four wings are usually held together alongside or sail-like over the abdomen.
eyes - set far apart giving hammer-headed appearance.
behaviors - weak fliers, usually found not too far from water. All damselflies lay their eggs directly into vegetation.
males - a bump (genitalia) under their 2nd abdominal segment; four terminal abdominal appendages.females - a wide ovipositor on the lower end of their abdomen; only two terminal abdominal appendages. California - at least 41 species recorded within the state, representing 3 of the 5 American damselfly families.

sizes: medium, lengths 23 - 50 mm
description: males are usually blue (or violet/purplish) & black;
perch with wings held well up and over back, sail-like;
leg hairs 2X as long as space between them;
4th leg joint has 2 rows stiff bristles;
eyes often a dark blue color but not black;
side stripe on thorax often pinched or splitfemales: 2 forms - most common is tan or gray where male is blue; other is like male;
no vulvar spine on segment 8
nymph: robust
behavior: flight `dance-like' (up & down); 'clap' wings when approached;
alight more frequently in open spaces on rocks &/or wood rather than on vegetation;
more likely at moving waters;
tandem ovipositwith male in 'sentinel' positioneggs laid on surface mats of algae, floating vegetation or on wood

similar species: rarer River Bluet E. anna has upper appendages noticeably longer and forked,
only occurs east of Sierra Nevada/Cascade Mts.
Northern, Boreal, & Alkali Bluets have lower appendages the longest; blue areas more angled than on E. civile;
Arroyo and Tule Bluet have 3rd segment more black than blue; use appendages to differentiate

behavior: Bluets fly low over water along shoreline; tandem oviposit on underwater plants floating at surface

habitat: still waters with fields nearby; also slow waters with abundant vegetation; even cattle tanks, and brackish waters;
charactersitic species at disturbed areas; tolerates organic pollution

size: small, lengths 20 - 35 mm
description: most are black, with less blue on abdomen than others Pond Damsels;
most appear black with blue showing only on thorax and end of `tail'
males: black with colored markings on thorax;
most have blue markings near end of abdomen;
a few species show yellow or red markings on thorax or abdomen
females: some similar to males, some not;
coloration and markings differ markedly from teneral to adult stages, many show orange when immature;
some become pruinose black or light gray
behavior: females oviposit unescorted into floating vegetation;
may only want to mate once; bend 'tail' down to signal male that she is not receptive;
eggs laid in stems & leaves of aquatic plants;
perch on emergent vegetation
habitat: still water with abundant vegetation